Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Religion
Buddhist birth stories; or, Jataka tales, Volume 1
Jataka stories, English
By the miraculous power which angels have, he accordingly, that very
moment, drew near in the likeness of the royal barber; and taking
from the barber’s hand the material for the turban, he arranged it
round the Bodisat’s head. At the touch of his hand the Bodisat knew,
“This is no man, it is a son of the gods.” When the first round of the
turban was put on, there arose, by the appearance of the jewelry on the
diadem, a thousand folds; when the turban was wrapt the second time
round, a thousand folds arose again; when ten times, ten thousand folds
appeared. How so many folds could seem to rise on so small a head is
beyond imagination; for in size the largest of them were as the flower
of the Black Priyaŋgu creeper, and the rest even as Kutumbaka blossoms.
And the head of the future Buddha became like a Kuyyaka flower in full
bloom.
And when he was arrayed in all his splendour,--the musicians the while
exhibiting each one his peculiar skill, the Brāhmans honouring him with
words of joy and victory, and the men of lower castes with festive
cries and shouts of praise;--he ascended his superbly decorated car.
At that time Suddhodana the king, who had heard that the mother of
Rāhula had brought forth a son, sent a message, saying, “Make known my
joy to my son!” The future Buddha, hearing this, said, “An impediment
has come into being, a bond has come into being.” When the king asked,
“What did my son say?” and heard that saying; he gave command, “From
henceforth let Rāhula (impediment) be my grandson’s name.” But the
Bodisat, riding in his splendid chariot, entered the town with great
magnificence and exceeding glory.
At that time a noble virgin, Kisā Gotamī by name, had gone to the flat
roof of the upper story of her palace, and she beheld the beauty and
majesty of the Bodisat as he was proceeding through the city. Pleased
and delighted at the sight, she burst forth into this song of joy:--
271. Blessed indeed is that mother,--
Blessed indeed is that father,--
Blessed indeed is that wife,--
Who owns this Lord so glorious!
Hearing this, the Bodisat thought to himself, “On catching sight of
such a one the heart of his mother is made happy, the heart of his
father is made happy, the heart of his wife is made happy! This is all
she says. But by what can every heart attain to lasting happiness and
peace?” And to him whose mind was estranged from sin the answer came,
“When the fire of lust is gone out, then peace is gained; when the
fires of hatred and delusion are gone out, then peace is gained; when
the troubles of mind, arising from pride, credulity, and all other
sins, have ceased, then peace is gained! Sweet is the lesson this
singer makes me hear, for the Nirvāna of Peace is that which I have
been trying to find out. This very day I will break away from household
cares! I will renounce the world! I will follow only after the Nirvāna
itself![192]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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